Minor Dalit girl commits suicide over harassment by Muslim youth in Dharwad, police yet to arrest accused

DHARWAD: A Muslim youth has been booked under the POCSO Act and for abetment of suicide following a minor Dalit girl’s death after he shared a photo of her wearing a burqa on Instagram, in the city on May 8. It is suspected that the girl ended her life due to fear of ‘love jihad’.

The youth, Naeem Baig, was in a relationship with the Dalit girl. He had got her to wear a burqa and was taking her around when the girl’s parents saw them. The parents advised the girl to stop going around with Naeem.

Following this, the girl had distanced herself from Naeem, but he did not relent. Naeem bought her a mobile phone and would chat with her and make video calls. He also uploaded the burqa-clad photo of the Dalit girl on Instagram and it went viral.

It is believed that the girl ended her life due to fear of harassment. The parents had lodged a complaint at the Garag police station, but the youth has not been arrested even after a month. The parents have accused the police of shielding Naeem while Dalit groups have demanded the immediate arrest of the accused.